As a special celebration began at the Wesley-Smith Chapel United Methodist Church, the Rev. Tammy Herman said its survival was one of "pure determination." Founded in the late 1870s as the Wesley Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church, the black congregation first met in a little log school "out J Road" near Wright City. Now meeting in its third building, the congregation is active and thriving. The Warren County Historical Society chose Wesley-Smith Chapel as the site of its annual historic church tour held Sunday, Aug. 16. "God's church will stand," said Donald Luckett, church member and local minister. "All the worker bees are still going strong." After outgrowing the log church, a frame building was constructed in 1890 to house the growing congregation. Original planners include Charles Edwards, Warren Keithly, Jim Nelson, Lou Robinson and others. Gladys Ball remembered attending services in "the little white building" in the early 1950s. "We needed more room," she said. "The basement was dug by hand." At the urging of Mr. and Mrs. Everett Ball, the basement project took place in 1953. Church members crawled beneath the building and dug the basement. Funded by fish fries, ice cream socials and box suppers, a furnace was installed in 1954. In 1966 a vestibule was added to the structure. In 1971, the first piano was purchased and indoor restrooms were added. Over the years, members donated pews, hymnals, choir chairs, a lighted cross, Bibles, a steeple and a flagpole to honor veterans. A neighboring black congregation north of Foristell closed its doors in 1973 and combined with the Wright City church, worshiping together as the Wesley-Smith Chapel. A new brick building was constructed in 1990 under the leadership of the Rev. Paula Eschenbrenner, where the congregation worships today. Luckett, whose family farm was located near the Foristell church, described the hard work and tenacity of the families who contributed to the success of both historic churches. "We used to hold rally days," he said. "Praise God and raise money. People came from miles around and sat under the trees around the church." Luckett described the property at Foristell, which housed a church, the Douglas schoolhouse and cemetery. The school provided education for grades one through eight. "There was no electricity," he said and laughed as he described his mother's no-nonsense directives. "There was no excuse for failing in school. My mother said 'you graduate or you die.'" Luckett spent many hours researching the early days of the Foristell congregation. He found that in 1871 the church bought the acre of ground for $40 from W.W. Potts. Potts placed a rider on the deed saying if the property ceased to be the home of the congregation, it would revert to his heirs. Although the church building no longer exists and the schoolhouse sits idle, members still maintain the historic cemetery. Its partnership with the Wright City congregation allows the ownership to remain with the church. Smith Ball, a Civil War veteran, was instrumental in the foundation of the church in Foristell. Living to more than 100 years, Ball saw the congregation grow and evolve until his death in 1912. "This is one of the most rewarding historical trips I've made," said Luckett as he shared photos and maps with the visitors. After the program at the Wright City location, the tour continued at the Smith-Chapel cemetery in Foristell where family members are still buried. The Rev. Tammy Herman shares her pastoral duties with Open Hearts United Methodist Church in Wright City. Services at the Wesley-Smith Chapel are held every Sunday morning at 11 a.m. "This congregation has what it takes to have something endure for generations," said Herman. "The Hebrew people kept their history alive by remembering. The same spirit is here." At the conclusion of the service, Barbara Love presented an Excellence in Ministry award to Donald Luckett. Love said Luckett is a great example of the kind of person who has made the Wesley-Smith Chapel church survive for nearly 150 years - "spending seven days a week doing the job of the Lord." The Wesley-Smith Chapel is located at 2977 Highway J, just north of Interstate 70 in Wright City.